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Miscellanea

From The Wayback Machine The Wall Street Journal reported on page one, back when Bill Clinton took office, he spent $12 million taxpayer dollars on his inauguration party. People were choking on their breakfast cereal when they read that, it was unheard of. He and the democrats (who got to go to the multi-day affairs, and I do mean affairs if you catch my drift) scoffed it off. Hey, they earned it right?

I'm taking bets on the cost for the next one, whoever wins.

Secret Messages From Now On

You just have to wonder how Hillary -- or anyone -- is going to send private secure messages going forward. Ear whispers with loud background music? Private chats from plane to plane on the tarmac. Scribbled notes hand carried then burned (subject to interception en route). With the NSA and WikiGotcha operating, even the U.S. presidency is reduced to unwanted incriminating evidence trails. Want ads for bin Laden couriers are circulating.

500 People Show Up Armed For Dinner

Slowest Waiters All Make It Home AliveOpen-carry banquet a splendid affair, 11th year in a rowArizona Citizens Defense League Annual Meetingsold-out, total success, auction, speeches,sign up early next year, the seats go fast.

Political Pledge You Won't Hear

Will you pledge to never sign any legislation you haven't read, personally?

Everyone knows this is right. Politicians have forgotten this. Sure, reading everything will slow things way down. That's the point. And absolutely no voting on 1,000-page bills that haven't been distributed yet -- that would be malfeasance and grounds for dismissal in business.

Followup: Will you agree to step down from office if you vote for a bill you haven't read?

About the Author

Freelance writer Alan Korwin is a founder and past president of the Arizona Book Publishing Association. With his wife Cheryl he operates Bloomfield Press, the largest producer and distributor of gun-law books in the country. Here writing as "The Uninvited Ombudsman," Alan covers the day's stories as they ought to read. Read more.